Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro review: form is more important than function

Rugged phones usually have a more durable and confident design. However, Samsung XCover Pro brings a different approach to the rugged market. Its square design and soft colors ensure that the phone is more fashionable. But is it durable enough to withstand competition?Find out in Android Authority Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro review.

• Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro (4GB/64GB): 499 USD / 399 GBP / 499 Euro

In the rugged equipment market, Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro is right in the middle. XCover Pro is priced at $499, and comes in one color (black) and an option-4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space, which can be expanded to 512GB via a microSD card. The device I tested came with Android 10. After about six incremental updates, I was able to update the phone to Android 11/One UI 3.

XCover Pro is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 9611 processor and an average-sized 4,050mAh battery. However, the biggest selling point here is that the battery is removable, so you can replace the battery at will to extend its use time. The phone is also equipped with a full HD 6.3-inch display protected by Gorilla Glass 5. There is an uncovered USB-C port and a single-shot speaker at the bottom. See an additional programmable button and a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the top, and another smart button on the left. The right side is equipped with a volume rocker and a power/fingerprint sensor button.

In the box, you will get a USB-C charger and some 3.5 mm earphones.

Compared with other heavy-duty mobile phones, XCover Pro’s more stylish design has its advantages and disadvantages. Although the more traditional form factor is more comfortable to use than its sturdy competitors, it doesn’t feel as durable in the hand. It is equipped with IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating, Gorilla Glass 5 and a rubber case to ensure that it can withstand a few drops of water. It is also rated as MIL-STD 810G, which can prevent shock, vibration, heat, cold, humidity, etc., although this is not the latest MIL-STD 810H level provided by some rugged equipment.

If you are after the combination of durability and design, then Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro may provide the best compromise. Nevertheless, even if there are glass grades, I still recommend using a glass screen protector on the display.

To test, I dropped the phone several times, immersed it in running water, or even threw it away. In every test, this phone performed well. However, I might add that the removable plastic back of the phone feels a bit fragile. The biggest disadvantage of this design may be the uncovered port of the phone. Although they are sealed inside, I don’t recommend immersing this phone in water for a long time. In other words, it should be fine if it drops a drop in a swimming pool or lake.

In addition to stylish beauty, the best feature of this phone must be the display. It is not surprising that Samsung devices have high-quality displays, and XCover Pro is no exception. The 2,340 x 1,080 6.3-inch panel is very bright, with good contrast and sharpness, which is something I can’t say with other rugged alternatives I’ve tested. I hope that Samsung will provide more options to customize the color on the monitor. Although the color is bright, I find it a bit green, which is in line with my liking. Despite this, it is still the best monitor you can find on a rugged device.

Considering the smaller size of the 4,050mAh battery, the better-than-average performance of XCover Pro really surprised me. In my daily work, I have an average of 7 to 8 hours of screen on time, which includes a large number of streaming videos, social media, light games and photography. Unfortunately, the included 15W fast charger only takes more than two hours to power the phone, which is quite a long time for such a small battery. In addition, XCover Pro does not support any form of wireless charging. To make up for these shortcomings is the removable battery. You can find battery replacement parts online, and when I need a full charge, I can quickly and easily replace the battery. This is definitely a plus point for XCover Pro, especially for those who want to use the phone for a long time but not close to the power point.

What’s wrong?

So far, you might think that the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro is the best rugged phone, but unfortunately, this phone has some disadvantages. Mainly performance. Exynos 9611 is a low clock chip with 4GB of memory. Although the navigation in the application is relatively responsive, the loading time is very bad, and I have to wait four to five seconds to fully load the application or page. Don’t get me wrong, the phone can be used, but the speed may be very slow. In addition, due to One UI 3, the phone has a large number of additional inventory applications and settings, which may also lead to general sluggishness. Unfortunately, the performance of this device lags behind competitors with mid-range Snapdragon chips.

Finally, Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro does not support 5G, which can be found in some other rugged phones at the same price. In addition, although I praised the more stylish design, some people may feel that it is not durable enough. Although it has IP68 protection rating and fall protection certification, the plastic design and detachable back are not as reassuring as some metal/rubber similar products. The device also lacks robust features that may be necessary for some consumers, such as night vision or thermal imaging. Therefore, if you are looking for a mobile phone absolute tank with some additional camera quirks, then Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro may not be for you. Speaking of cameras, XCover Pro has a good onboard camera that can compete with other rugged products, but the image is often softer than the competition.

Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro camera sample

You can find a high-resolution version of each image here.

Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro specifications

At first glance, Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro seems to be a comprehensive and rugged device, but if you look closely, this comprehensiveness turns into some obvious shortcomings. Although the stylish design, full HD display and excellent battery life left a deep impression on me, the less than ideal processor performance and less durable construction make XCover Pro harder to sell. Although the price of $499 is quite competitive, these shortcomings ensure that XCover Pro cannot compete with higher-value mobile phones such as Doogee S96 Pro (USD 389) And Unihertz Atom XL (USD 329), or the more comprehensive Cat S62 Pro (649 USD). Coupled with the lack of 5G and lack of features such as night vision or thermal imaging, mobile phones feel unsuitable for rugged consumers.

In the final analysis, Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro performs well on some main indicators, but there are also some obvious shortcomings, making it a medium-strength rugged phone.